I am a current student at Brightwood, and I feel like this school is fairly decent. There is a big area upstairs, which features basketball courts, handball courts, a playground, classrooms, and even a nice sized grass field. On the grass field, you could play sports like football and softball with your friends. Many teachers and students are generally very nice, however some can be quite strict. I personally think some teachers give out WAY too much homework, but some can be terrible. Brightwood goes from TK-8th grade, which is nice if you don't want your kid to transition to another school. Overall, you will most likely make friends here and be ready for high school in the future. read more

I am also a student at Brightwood, this school is really great since I grew up here, but not the best of the best. The teachers are really great, but some are VERY strict. The teacher I have right now is one of the best teachers I've had. This school has a very big upstairs area including a very big grass field, volleyball area, playground, handball, and basketball court. I kind of wish that there was an actual net for the volleyball court, but overall it's pretty big. I personally think that not all the restrooms are clean especially the one's without mirrors. This school goes from TK-8 so your children don't have to transition to different schools. I also recommend this school to people. I loved this school growing up though and it's pretty easy to make friends here. read more

My daughter started in Kindergarten and just finished 8th grade on permit. My reason for maintaining her there included the community/families that comprised of the school and high expectations the school sets on the students. Like other reviewers have mentioned, not all teachers are great (there have been a few that are terrible!) but there are also some of the best teachers who are superb role models and wonderful educators. Since week one of Kindergarten, there had always been an excessive amount of hw given each year except for 1st grade. Part of the success and high test scores of the students, I feel, is from the hw that is given. But sadly, a large portion of family life is sacrificed because of it. Def can be too much stress on the student and parents. Nonetheless, my daughters growth and work ethic has developed to a high level because of Brightwood. She is well prepared for high school, and even college!! All in all, I feel she will continue to thrive because of this school. read more

I grew up in this school and I hated it due to the amount of excessive homework this school offers. 10 years later and my little sister is now in this school and doing the exact same thing. Stressing out that she has a test for a every subject. And can't enjoy any time with her family after school bc there's always a lot of HW. Insecure bc the teachers have their favorites and pick on a bunch of students. When will this school and the Alhambra school district learn that your worth and value is not based on just excessive amount of work a person does that's exhuasting. They're kids let them explore, enjoy life, let them enjoy what they're learning instead of making them hate school and learning. read more

Hello, I'd like to clarify that I went to this school a few years ago and it was fairly recent. The specific eighth grade teachers I am talking about in my review are still eighth grade teachers at this school right now and they've been teaching for a long time. After leaving eighth grade, I struggled with low self esteem due to their tactics of putting people down and humiliating them. I sincerely hope they read my review on yelp because I want them and many others to know that their treatment of me and other students was not acceptable and never will be. It's about time someone spoke up about this. read more

The school goes from grades K-8. Great school with a lot of extra curricular activities and an excellent learning system. They've turned a good portion of the playground and lawn areas into additional classrooms which is good and bad. read more

Brightwood Elementary School - Elementary Schools Near Me - Monterey Park, California

This school is horrible. My experience was not good at all. When I was in the second grade me and my friends got bullied by these fourth graders. They said that we couldn't go to the bathroom because they "said so" and because they were the boss of us because they were in a higher grade. They just kept stalking us. Told the vice principal and what I remember she didn't believe me. She didn't do anything about it, in fact, she didn't even care. Probably because the fourth graders were pretty popular. After that they would stick pick at us and ended up bringing more people to bully us as well. Also, some of my teachers always pick favorites and would scold me if I was failing. It made me insecure and I felt like I couldn't do a single thing right. If you did something wrong or asked a dumb question they would make fun of you, and embarrass you. Im not gonna say who the teachers were, but it did hurt me. I talked to my friend about this and we both agreed this was a terrible school. I understand why this school has bad reviews. The staff don't give a shit about what's happening to the kids. Do not recommend. Sorry. read more

My son started brightwood a his second grade year of school. I was first off excited because we live walking distance to the school which is always nice to beat traffic etc, and of course I heard nothing but good things about the ratings of the school as well. Every parent wants their child to go to a top rated school if they can! Anyway, school started and everything was fine! The crossing guard Richard is so sweet! My son and I instantly became friends with him! Sweetest man ever!! Office staff is pretty helpful most of the time as well. Time went on and my son would start to tell me things his teacher would say in class like "I don't get paid enough for this " or a great one was when he came home one day asking what pathetic meant. When I asked why he said his teacher called the whole class that since they were all talking too much. I was livid! One other ridiculous comment she made was to my sister who is also a teacher , we were all at back to school night when my son introduced his auntie to her and excitedly said she's a teacher too! Her response to her was "my condolences" ! If you are that miserable teaching then find a new profession!! Last but certainly not least my son was having a problem with 1 math problem and I told him let her know about it and see if she can explain it to you and help you with it. When he came home that day he told me her response to what he asked was, "im your teacher not a tutor !" Safe to say I've had it with her and I'm so happy he's onto 3rd grade and we never have to deal with mrs. chuili ever again!!! The rating I'll give the SCHOOL IS A 4 5 Star but if I could rate the teacher it would have been NO stars at all! read more

The school is very bare. The kids in the higher grades only have blacktop to hang out on. Which becomes unbearable during the late summer and early fall. There are no trees to offer a reprieve. The school gives all the kids too much homework, which ends up stressing all the children. My kids ended up with nightmares and always stressed due to the excessive unnecessary homework. Why do kids in the upper grades need to draw pictures in pencil, then outline in fine tip marker then color? Definitely unnecessary and a waste of time for the kids. The kínder through 4th grade levels are good but after 4th the school becomes ridiculously stressful for the kids. Teachers in upper grades read grades of students out loud just to humiliate under achievers. Some teachers have students grade for them which definitely is a violation. There are absolutely no emphasis on outdoor activities or extra curricular activities. If I had the opportunity to start my kids schooling over again, I would get a permit and send them to Highlands Elementary. If you want well rounded individuals do not send them to this school. read more

Brightwood is the best school in Monterey park. The health office people care about you and want you to feel better. I started from 3rd grade and ended at 8th grade. Every teacher at Brightwood is nice and caring. The teachers want you to get better grades not fail. I recommend your child to go to Brightwood because they will feel comfortable with the nice yard duties and playing with their friends. read more

Brightwood school is a great school for learning. Kids can play in the newly built playground upstairs. Lots of classrooms and teachers there. read more

My son had Mrs. McKlain a 3rd grade teacher. She is a not only a horrible teacher but an awful person. She bullied my son the entire school year. He was very insecure about his ability to learn because she traumatized him and always told him he wasn't smart enough to learn. No one in the school did anything about it including the principal who just brushed it off. However their is some great teachers at that school like Mrs. Sue and Mrs. Winn their should be more like them. I'm writing this review to share my son's story and if you run into her (monster) you should know your child is not the only one. Im Blessed that my son is doing great now and this happened in an early stage of his childhood and was able to move on. read more

My son is a student here he started in fourth grade, and he is now in fifth grade I love the staff they are very nice and they are very good with their students. I love all of the activities, clubs, and fundraisers that they have available for the students my son really enjoys them. My daughter will be starting kindergarten here in August 2018-2019 school year. The only thing I have kind of negative to say is that it is a small school, but it is kept very clean and nice. read more

My niece goes to this school, and you know that Uncie Chris is going to pick her up from school often since the sister works horrible hours. I get a very good feeling about the education here. All of the students seem very well spoken for being in elementary. My niece appears to be excelling more than most people her age, and since I get the same feeling from the other students here, I would assume that this school is partially responsible for such good education. My props to the educators here. If all continues to go well with my niece here, I will certainly consider this school for my kids in the future! read more

my oldest son has been going to this school since K and he is now just starting 3rd grade. When he started K, his teacher left after a few months, he learned alot and moved to 1st. His 1st teacher was a lady who taught nearly 30 years and very strict which was really good. 2nd grade he seems to get less homework and starting to slow down. People in the office are less helpful as the years gone by. When they said they will call back, they never did. The test scores and rating gone down a bit too. People have less respect when it comes time to pick up their kids and a mess in the front gate. I hope it will not get worse next year as my son likes going here. read more

This is one of the best school in Monterey Park, deal with it. gettotoototoototootttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt Omg, Jesus help me plzzlzplzplzplpzlpzlpzlpzlpzlpzlzplzplzplzplzplzplzplzplzplzplzplzplzplzplzplzplzplzzzzzz HEHE XD HEHEH XXD HEHE XD HEHE XD HHEHHEXD the teachers are very good at teaching me, and my classmates, HEHHEHEHEH XD read more

best school around. the teacher really care about the student academically. although student may have a lot of homework. m